The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Eaglets

  • Congolese coach, Sokoto Commissioner tip Eaglets

    Congolese coach, Sokoto Commissioner tip Eaglets

    Basile Erariki, Head coach of crestfallen junior Red Devils of Congo Brazzaville at the CAN Under-17 team, has predicted a possible Nigeria versus Cote d’Ivoire final after his team was dumped out of the competition on Saturday.

    Congo finished third behind the two West African teams in Group B on two points after drawing 1-1 against Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana before receiving a 7-0 hiding from Nigeria on Saturday.

    Speaking at the post match conference at the Grande Stade de Marrakech, Erariki rated Group B over Group A that had hosts Morocco, Tunisia, Gabon and Botswana.

    “I agree that our group was the most difficult,” he explained. “Any of the four teams in this group is good and you could see that the semi-finalists did not emerge here until today.”

    He added. “Either Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire or Congo could have qualified easily in the other group but there is nothing we can do about that again. If Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire play the semi finals the way they played us, they can end up being in the finals.”

    The post-match conference was nearly turned to a comedy of errors when a Congolese journalist suggested that the Golden Eaglets deliberately lost to Cote d’Ivoire in order to edge out his country!

    “We came here to win all our matches and you could see that my players were crying after we lost to Cote d’Ivoire,” Coach Manu Garba (MFR) fired back at the journalists’ faux pas. “Before that game, we had not lost any match for over one year; you could see that we were so pained after that set back.”

    In a related development, Hon. Dalhatu Sidi Mamman, Sokoto Commissioner for Sports who saw the Golden Eaglets crush Congo, has equally tipped the team to go all the way.

    “I’m quite impressed with the performance of the Golden Eaglets against Congo today,” he said. “I was quite happy with the way they responded against Congo after their loss to Cote d’Ivoire earlier and I believe they have the capacity to go all the way and win this tournament.”

  • EAGLETS WALLOP CONGO 7-0

    EAGLETS WALLOP CONGO 7-0

    •To play Tunisia in semi

    NIGERIA’S Golden Eaglets have qualified for the semi-final of the African Junior Championship currently taking place in Morocco after they beat Congo 7-0 in the final group game played on Saturday.

    Kelechi Iheanacho’s hat-trick and Isaac Success’ brace sealed victory for Nigeria against a less experienced Congolese side.

    The result means the Nigerian side have booked a ticket to the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

    Iheanacho opened scoring for Nigeria in the early minutes of the game to set the Eaglets on the tone.

    Isaac Success made it two for Nigeria in the 27th minute, and added another within six minutes interval through a spot kick after Congo’s left back Imouele was sent off to reduce the team to ten men.

    Congo were desperate to prevent further damage, and they were further reduced to nine men after Yobi was sent off in the 40th minute.

    And the development favoured Nigeria when they scored their fourth goal through Iheanacho with one minute before the break.

    Four minutes into the second half, Nigeria scored the fifth goal through Musa Yahaya, and the Eaglets continued their ride over Congo when Ifeanyi Mathew scored the 6th goal in the 60th minute.

    With four minutes remaining, Iheanacho completed his hat-trick on the night with a powerful goal to ensure Nigeria advance to the semi-final with a 7-0 victory.

    Nigeria had several chances to increase the tally, but were unable to finish, with the Congolese now on the defensive.

     

  • ‘Eaglets too proud against Elephants’

    ‘Eaglets too proud against Elephants’

    Prime FC coach, Yekini Ayodeji has said Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets paid the prize of pride in their Group B Matchday 2 encounter against Cote d Ivoire at the ongoing Africa Under-17 Championship in Morocco.

    The Nigerians who have maintained 100% record previously in all competitive matches were piped 0-1 by the more purposeful Ivorians in Marrakech on Wednesday.

    Ayodeji said Eaglets allowed the group’s opening 6-1 win against Ghana’s Black Starlets to overwhelmed them as they failed completely to offer the vital challenge to the more enterprising Ivorians.

    “I think after the 6-1 win against Ghana they’re already looking at themselves as champions even before the championship ends and they paid dearly for it.

    “They’re lackadaisical throughout the encounter and never created not to talk of converting any chance at goal. Their approach in today’s (Wednesday) game was 100% wrong. It’s so bad that you’re tempted to ask whether this was same team that overran Ghana. The Ivorians were clearly the better of both sides.

    “Thank God this wasn’t the knockout stage, good too, it happened now there is room for correction if not it would’ve been a complete disaster,” he said to supersport.com.

    Ayodeji said Eaglets must go all out to grab a win in its group’s last game against Congo to cement a spot in the World Cup party.

    “What happened in the tie against Cote d Ivoire is a big lesson and I hope they’ve learnt from it. Of course, they must go all out to win against Congo to guarantee passage to the semifinals as well as the World Cup.

    “Though draw may still see them through to the last four but they must be mindful of the head to head rule in case they tied on points with Cote d’ Ivoire. So the way around it is to win against Congo. They didn’t create chance at goal against the Ivorians so they must rediscover their goalscoring ability when they face Congo at the weekend,” he said.

    Nigeria has lost the group’s top spot to Cote d’ Ivoire and must defeat Congo on Saturday to be certain of progression into the next stage of the biennial cadet football fiesta.

    The semi-finalists at the Morocco 2013 CAN Under-17 event will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the months of October and November.

  • Maigari’s arrival boosts Golden Eaglets

    Maigari’s arrival boosts Golden Eaglets

    The rank and file of the Golden Eaglets got a boost ahead of their game against Cote d’Ivoire on Wednesday with the arrival of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Aminu Maigari at their posh Ryad Mogador Menara Hotel on Tuesday.

    The President who flew in to Casablanca earlier was accompanied to the team’s hotel by Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, the Director of Competitions at the NFF and Mr. Saad Wunti Abdullahi, the protocol and sport officer at the Nigeria Embassy in Morocco.

    Speaking with officials of the team immediately, Maigari said the NFF and indeed Nigerians were proud of the team following their convincing 6-1 victory over Ghana even as he charges them to remain focussed.

    “I have received numerous messages congratulating the NFF and I over your Sunday’s victory against Ghana but I want you to tell the boys “not to get carried away yet’,” said the President who has graciously agreed to stay at the team’s hotel. “I have come to be with you because you are a team dear to the heart of Nigerians.

    “You had impressive qualifying results and we want you to convince the rest of the continent that you are the best team at this tournament,” he said.

    Coach Manu Garba (MFR) in the meantime, used the opportunity to thank Alhaji Maigari as well as the board and management of the NFF, for their unalloyed support to the team.

    “We can’t thank you enough sir and I’m using this opportunity to tell Nigerians that we remain focussed and by the grace of God, we shall be victorious at the end of this assignment,” he stated.

    Meanwhile, Alhaji Maigari is expected to meet the players during lunch

    time on Wednesday to boost-up their morale before the showdown against

    Cote d’Ivoire at the Grande Stade de Marrakech.

  • Ghana Starlets boss dazed by Eaglets heavy win

    Ghana Starlets boss dazed by Eaglets heavy win

    Ghana U17 coach Paa Kwesi Fabin says he took responsibility for his side’s heavy 6-1 defeat at fierce rivals Nigeria at the African Junior Championship, admitting he got his tactics wrong.

    The former Hearts of Oak trainer, who looked dazed after the Golden Eaglets crushed the Black Starlets in an embarrassing fashion, also accepted that he was clueless about the superior display of the Nigerians.

    The Black Starlets were outclassed by the Golden Eaglets who had striker Isaac Success score four of their goals.

    Ghana were brimming with confidence after scoring a total of 18 goals in three pre-tournament training matches in Italy including an impressive 3-2 defeat to the first team of Italian Serie A side Sampdoria.

    But the Black Starlets were thoroughly beaten by a far superior Nigerian side who dominated all aspects of the game as they opened their U17 campaign in Morocco.

    Fabin, and his side have come under fire from home supporters after the result but the former Heart of Oak trainer is making no excuses for the under par performance.

    “Nigeria surprised us tonight, they were far better than we had expected and outplayed us,” Fabin admitted after the match that sent shockwaves throughout Ghana.

    “We did not see this heavy defeat coming at all and not only were the Nigerians good but they were stronger too.

    “So we need to have a look at how we approached this game because our tactics and set –up did not work today.”

    Ghana’s next Group B match will be against Congo-who drew 1-1 with Ivory Coast- on Wednesday.

     

  • Manu restates Eaglets will be champions after hammering Ghana

    Manu restates Eaglets will be champions after hammering Ghana

    GOLDEN Eaglets coach Manu Garba has restated his team will be African U17 champions after hammering rivals Ghana 6-1 in their opening game at the African Championship on Sunday.

    The coach is delighted that they have been able to silence their loud arch rivals in what could be a historic win for a Nigerian youth side over their Ghanaian counterparts.

    The Black Starlets were left in wonderland after four goals from Isaac Success left the West African youth football giants reeling and gasping for breath.

    The Golden Eaglets have won the U17 championship twice with their last triumph being in 2007 in Togo.

    Garba who guided the Eaglets to the historic win over the Ghanaians says they are delighted to annihilate their arch rival in this fashion.

    “We enjoyed this victory against Ghana because they a good side and we are traditional opponents,” Manu Garba said at the post match conference.

    “It is a good start for us, but we remain focused because we have not won anything yet.

    “This is not the first time Nigeria is winning by a big margin at this level, when we won the tournament in Togo in 2007, we beat Eritrea 8-0, but this is the first time we are beating Ghana this way.

    “We are happy and we are looking forward to a good tournament and by the grace of God, we shall qualify for the World Cup as African champions.”

    Star striker Isaac Success lived up to the billing by grabbing four goals with Bernard Bulbwa and Kelechi Iheanacho also getting among the goals.

    Success was given the match ball following his hat-trick and has dedicated his goals to his mother and Golden Eaglets teammate, Friday Njengo, who is still at the National Hospital Abuja following injury in an auto crash in February.

    Njengo, who had been in coma for weeks, was recently transferred from the hospital’s intensive care unit to the general ward as he recuperates.

    “Our thought and prayers always with Njengo who would have been here with us if not for the accident,” said Success.

    ”We miss him so much. I’m dedicating this victory and two of my goals to him and the two others to my mother.

    “We pray that God grants him good health soonest.”

  • Eaglets start on a good note, say Onigbinde, Shorunmu

    Eaglets start on a good note, say Onigbinde, Shorunmu

    Adegboye Onigbinde, a former Head Coach of the Super Eagles, on Monday applauded the performance of the Golden Eaglets for starting the ongoing CAF U-17 Championship in Casablanca, Moorocco on a winning note.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Eaglets defeated their Ghanaian opponents by six goals to one at the ongoing tournament on Sunday. He told NAN that being a patriotic Nigerian; he expected the team to build on the result of their first match, to excel in the tournament.

    “Concerning the Eaglets performance, naturally as a patriotic Nigerian, I’m very happy and I think that was a very good beginning. I think that will spur them to perform better. For them to maintain their winning streak depends on the coach, I mean the technical crew. It is just for them to sit down and analyse.

    “Because in football there is a difference between performance and result, the result as we have seen is very good, What about their performance, which is also important,” Onigbinde noted.

    Onigbinde, a CAF and FIFA instructor, urged the handlers of the team to ensure that they maintain and instil discipline in the squad, for better results.

    “They should maintain discipline in the team and ensure that they build on the success of the opening match; they should not rest on their oars,” Onigbinde said.

    Also commending the Golden Eaglets, Ike Shorunmu, the goalkeeper trainer of the Super Eagles, described their victory as ‘a good start’. He, however, urged them not to relent in their efforts, so that they would lift the cup.

    “That’s a good start for the Eaglets, and for the country. I hope they will continue on this note, their victory will boost their confidence, which is necessary for the team. I just hope they get to the final of the competition and come back home with the trophy. 2013 is a year of trophies for the country’s football,” Shorunmu predicted.

    NAN reports that the ongoing CAF U-17 Championship in Casablanca, Morocco, kicked off on April 13 and will end on April 27. The Eaglets will be playing their next group match on April 17 against Cote d’Ivoire

     

  • Eaglets wallop Ghana Starlets 6-1

    Eaglets wallop Ghana Starlets 6-1

    NIGERIA’S Golden Eaglets began their African Junior Championship with a five star performance after they walloped a ten-man Ghana Black Starlets 6-1 in the second Group B game played in Marrakech on Sunday.

    Striker Isaac Success announced his presence in the tournament by topping the goals scorers chat firing four past Nigeria’s arch rivals.

    He opened the scoring with a cool finish with just 10 minutes of play before Bulbwa added the second from a counter-attack in the 30th minute.

    The coach Manu Garba-led side profited from another break and Success was at his predatory best to finish the move in the 40th minute.

    After the break, the lanky ace converted a spot-kick to make it 4-0 before pouncing on a defence splitting pass to blast past Starlets substitute goalkeeper.

    The Black Starlets pulled one back through Yeboah who struck from 20 yards.

    The Golden Eaglets completed the demolishing exercise with a final goal by Ihenacho before seven minutes of added on time.

    Meanwhile, in the first game of the group, Congo and Cote d’ Ivoire shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw of the opening Group B match of the 2013 CAF U-17 Championship played in Marrakech on Sunday. Cote d’ Ivoire came from behind to equalise in a game the Baby Elephants dominated but could not breakdown a hardworking Congo. The goals came from Ngatsongo Obassi eight minutes into the match and an equaliser from Junior Ahissan.

  • SHOCKER! THREE GOLDEN EAGLETS PLAYERS FAIL MRI TEST

    SHOCKER! THREE GOLDEN EAGLETS PLAYERS FAIL MRI TEST

    •CAF drops Ndidi, Abdullahi, Asadu 

    THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has excluded three Nigerian players from participating at the Under 17 African Championship which began in Morocco on Saturday.

    MRI test, which can accurately determine the ages of players, conducted on Friday showed that two defenders and a striker were above the age limit for the competition.

    The affected players are Wilfred Onyinye Ndidi (Nath FC, Lagos), Ibrahim Abdullahi (Sardauna Academy, Kano) and Emmanuel Asadu (Amuneke Academy) .

  • CAN U-17 championship: Eaglets land safely in Marrakech

    CAN U-17 championship: Eaglets land safely in Marrakech

    The Golden Eaglets on Wednesday arrived Marrakech exactly five days ahead of their opening Group B match against Ghana’s Black Starlets at the 10th CAN U-17 holding between April 13 and 27.

    Incidentally, the Golden Eaglets and their West African rivals, Ghana both arrived Aeroport Mohammed V in Casablanca about the same time on Wednesday and were promptly transferred to Marrakech.

    Protocol Officer at the Nigerian Embassy in Rabat, Mr. Saad Wunti Abdullahi, was on ground to help the Golden Eaglets complete mandatory immigration formalities assuring the team of a wonderful stay in Morocco.

    The Nigerian contingent led by the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) Director of Competition, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi which landed in Casablanca aboard Royal Air Maroc at 9:25am local time( 10:25am in Nigeria), was conveyed in an air-conditioned bus to Marrakech in a journey that lasted for about three hours. The team is lodged at Ryad Mogador Menara, Marrakech in the heart of the city which used to be the capital of Morocco.

    Meanwhile, the coincidental arrival of Nigeria and Ghana about the same time was an opportunity for the perennial West African rivals to size each other up ahead of the eagerly awaited Sunday’s match.

    Players and officials on both sides cast glances at each other while boarding their separate buses to Marrakech and it is apparent that no quarter would be given when they battle on Sunday.

    “They have seen us and we have seen them,” Golden Eaglets’ coordinator, Suleiman Abubakar said. “We wait to see what happens on Sunday but we are confident about our chances in this championship starting with Sunday’s game against Ghana.”

    In the meantime, Golden Eaglets coach Manu Garba (MFR), has told the players that training ahead of the upcoming matches will begin in earnest.